Belt buckle x



E. 5. MIX

' July 5, 1927. 1,635,135

v BELT BUCKLE' Filed April 9. 1923 INVENTOR. mm 511a,

-ms' ATTORNEYS.

with a clamping surface on the frame.

Patented July 5, 1927.

UNITED STATES 1,635,135 PATENT OFFICE.

, EDWIN s. MIX, OF ROCHESTER, NEW YORK, AssIeNoR T0 HICKQK MA UF CTURING COMPANY, me, A CORPORATION OF NEW YORK.

BELT RUCKIJE.

Application filed April 9, 1923. Serial No. 630,682.

The present invention relates to belt buckles and more particularly to the type in which there is provided a buckle frame with a pivoted clamping member cooperatilpg n object of this invention is to provide a yielding clamping surface on the frame for cooperation with the pivoted clamping memher, so that belts of different thicknesses may be clamped by the clamping member. A further object of the invention is to provide a fixed means for bending or crimping the belt on opposite sides of the clamping portion so that a tendency of the belt to slip is reduced. Another object of the invention is to provide a yielding clamping surface of novel construction, which may be readily formed from sheet metal and which may also be readily supported by a buckle frame having side flanges. Another object of the invention is to provide a novel means of securing a belt crimping member to a buckle frame having side flanges.

To these and other ends, the, invention consists of certain parts and combinations of parts, all of which will be hereinafter dc scribed, the novel features being pointed out in the appended claims.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a vertical section through a belt buckle constructed in accordance with this invention;

Fig. 2 is'a rear View of the belt buckle;

Fig. 3 is a transverse section through the buckle in the plane of the axis of turning of the clamping member;

Fig. 4 is a perspective view of the member having a yielding clamping surface and a belt crimping means; and

Fig. 5 is a perspective view of another embodiment of the member that is formed with a yielding clamping surface and a belt crimping means.

The buckle frame, in this instance embodies a front plate 1 having side flanges 2 and formed from a single piece of sheet metal, the side flanges having inwardly turned portions 3,, which confine the bent end between the flanges. The clamping member, in this instance, is in the form of an L shaped lever 4 having pintles 5 formed thereon to provide the pivoting means and mounted to turn in the side flanges. This clamping member also serves as an anchoring meansfor one end of the belt 6, the

anchoring means embodying one arm of the lever which is formed with flanges 7 on Which a clamp 8 is pivotally mounted.

Supported by and between the side flanges 2 is a member which has the dual function of providing a yielding, clamping surface for the belt so that belts of different thicknesses may be accommodated and for crimp ing the belt on opposite sides of the clamping surface to reduce the tendencyof the clamped end of the belt to slip. This memher is preferably formed of sheet material and is supported from the side flanges preterably having side flanges 9 which are perforated at 10 and having the pintles 5 extending therethrough, the member-abutting the rear face of the front plate 1 and, through such abutment and the piutles, being held rigidly to the buckle frame. Between its opposite edges 11 which abut the rear face of the front plate, the member is bent or pressed away from the frontplate and is provided with two ridges 12 with a depression between them forming the clamping surface with which the clamping member 4 cooperates. These ridges tend to bend or crimp the belt on opposite sides of the clamping surface and thus reduce the tendency of the belt to slip away from the clamping member. In order that belts of different thicknesses may be accommodated, the

clamping surface is "cut to provide aplurality of tongues 13 extending in opposite .directions and arranged in staggered relation.

In Fig. 5 is shown another embodiment of the clamping and crimping member. In this embodiment, the sides 9 are cut away at 9", so that the clamping portion 13 between the crimping ribs 12 is unsupported and is resilient, this clamping portion preferably being provided with ribs extending transversely of the length of the belt or parallel with the axis about which the clamping member turns. It will thus be seen that a resilient clamping portion is provided between the two crimping ribs without slitting the metal from which the surface is formed.

From the foregoing it will be seen that there has been provided a buckle in which a resilient clamping surface is provided on the buckle frame-for cooperating with the clamping member, so that belts of different thicknesses may be held by the buckle. This clamping surface, in one instance, is formed from sheet metal and has oppositely extending tongues arranged in spaced relation to the rear face of the front plate of the buckle frame and formed on a member which is supported by the side flanges, and, in the other instance, is formed by a corrugated surface supported only at its opposite edges and arranged in spaced relation to the rear face of the front plate, so that the surface Will yield between the two supporting edges. Provision is also made for crimping the belt on opposite sides of the clamping member by a means which is rigidlysupported by the side flanges of the buckle frame preferably by the pivoted means for the clamping member.

WVhat I claim as my invention and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. A buckle comprising a buckle frame, a clamping member pivoted to the buckle frame and means held in a rigid relation to the frame and having a resilient portion for engaging that side of the belt opposite the side engaged by the clamping member and directly opposite the portion engaged by the clamping member.

2. A buckle comprising a buckle frame, a clamping member pivoted to the buckle frame and a resilient portion on the frame for engaging that side of the belt opposite the side engaged by the clamping member and directly opposite the portion engaged by the clamping member, said resilient por-- tion' comprising a plurality of spring tongues.

3. A buckle comprising a buckle frame, a clamping member pivoted to the buckle frame and a resilient portion on the frame for engaging that side of the belt opposite the side engaged by the clamping member and directly opposite the portion engaged by the clamping member, said resilient portion ing side flanges, a clamping member pivotally mounted on said side flanges, and a belt crimping member secured to the side flanges in a rigid relation to the front plate and spaced from the clamping member such a distance that, when the clamping member is in non-clamping position, the belt may pass between the clamping member and such belt crimping member.

6. A belt buckle comprising a belt frame having side flanges, a clamping member, means for pivotally supporting said clamping member on the side flanges, and a member having side flanges through which said pivoting means extends to hold the member to the belt frame, the said last mentioned members engaging the rear face of the buckle frame and also the pivoting means so as to be held against movement relatively to the buckle frame, and said last mentioned member having a surface between said side flanges spaced from V the I clamping member when the latter is in non-clamping position to provide a space between the clamping member and such member with side flanges to permit a belt to pass between them in order that the member with side flanges may engage thatside of the belt opposite the side engaged by the clamping member.

EDlVIN S. MIX. 

